Top Pick Analysis: Vikings general manager Rick Spielman scored big on the
first day, snaring a pair of sliders in Floyd and Rhodes before trading back
in for a third first-round pick and nabbing playmaker extraordinaire
Patterson. Floyd was rated as a top-five talent by some and projects as a
Richard Seymour-like factor playing the three-technique. The fact he will be
learning under one of the best of this generation, Kevin Williams, also won't
hurt. Rhodes was in the top 15 on most boards and is a long, powerful corner
tailor-made for Minnesota's base Tampa-2 scheme. Patterson is raw but may be
the most explosive offensive player in this draft outside of West Virginia's
Tavon Austin. He's a YAC (yards-after-catch) machine and an impact returner
who could cure the Vikings' woes outside the numbers on offense in time.

Best Value Pick: Minnesota needs a middle linebacker and took a flyer on Mauti
in the seventh round. The Penn State linebacker is an instinctive, natural
Mike who would have rated as a second- or third-round pick but fell because
he's already had three ACL injuries. If Mauti ever stays healthy, he could be
a starter at the NFL level.

Questionable Calls: Trading away your entire second day for Patterson is a
gamble because he is so raw as a receiver. He catches the ball with his body
far too often, has trouble getting off the jam and has shown inconsistent
effort as a blocker.

Summary: Floyd, Rhodes and Patterson all were considered top-15 picks at some
point in the process so make no mistake, a ton of talent is on its way to
Minneapolis. Spielman also got perhaps the best punter in the draft, Locke, to
push the inconsistent Chris Kluwe, and snared a pair of solid prospects in the
later rounds, Baca, an offensive guard, and Dawkins, a defensive tackle, who
was Rhodes' teammate at FSU.